For Americans wanting to place legal sports bets, there are two options: domestic and offshore. However, for most states that allow sports betting, the required minimum age is 21 years old. For most 18, 19, and 20-year-old NFL bettors inside of the USA, that really only leaves the option of online, offshore sportsbooks. You need to be a minimum of 21-years-old to participate in any betting in Maryland. The exception is pari-mutuel horse racing, which states that you must be at least 18-years-old. Maryland Online Sports Betting. Jan 25, 2021 Yes, online sports betting in Rhode Island began late in 2019. The state allowed for remote registration of sports betting accounts during the 2020 legislature. Who can bet on sports in Rhode Island? The legal gambling age in Rhode Island is 18 years old. There are some sports betting websites that say they accept bets from the United States.
As the most popular professional sports league in the United States, the National Football League receives a lot of betting action during each season. Luckily, sports bettors in the USA have access to online sportsbooks that allow for 18+ NFL betting and offer a great alternative to domestic wagering facilities that often require players to be 21 and over.
18 Year Old Sports Betting Sites
A read through our guide will assist young bettors in finding out about the best places on the web to wager on NFL games, information on how to sign up as a new member, and how to find the best Super Bowl odds for 18 and up gamblers. The guide also explains the legalities of sports betting at 18 years old, which is extremely helpful for beginners.
Is it legal to bet on the NFL at 18 years old?
For Americans wanting to place legal sports bets, there are two options: domestic and offshore. However, for most states that allow sports betting, the required minimum age is 21 years old.
For most 18, 19, and 20-year-old NFL bettors inside of the USA, that really only leaves the option of online, offshore sportsbooks. The best part about international-based sports gambling is that it is legal throughout most of the United States as there are no gambling laws that forbid offshore betting.
For residents of Washington and Connecticut, other concessions may need to be made as both states prohibit all forms of online gambling. That said, most of the betting sites we suggest allow for 18+ gamblers inside of WA and CT’s borders to become a member.
Best 18+ NFL betting sites
Sportsbook | Bonus | USA | Rating | Visit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bovada | 50% Up To $250 | 4.7/5 | Visit Site | |
Betonline | 50% Up To $1,000 | 4.6/5 | Visit Site | |
Mybookie | 50% Up To $1,000 | 4.5/5 | Visit Site | |
Xbet | 100% Up To $500 | 4.4/5 | Visit Site | |
Bookmaker | 50% Up To $500 | 4.4/5 | Visit Site | |
SportsBetting | 50% Up To $1,000 | 4.3/5 | Visit Site |
NFL betting odds
Like any other sports league, the regular season is just a qualifier for the championship. When it comes to NFL Thanksgiving games, divisional rivalries, or postseason showdowns, the Super Bowl takes the cake. One of the most popular events in American culture, regardless of a viewer’s age, the Super Bowl amasses droves of bettors every year. Using online sportsbooks, wagers are available to be placed by anyone 18 and over 24 hours a day. The entire list of teams and Super Bowl betting odds are below.
Odds to win Super Bowl LV
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Spread: Chiefs -3.5, Bucs +3.5
- Money Line: Chiefs -170, Bucs +150
- Over-Under: 56.6
Tips and tricks for 18-year-olds betting on the NFL
One of the most important tips for 18+ NFL gamblers is: “If you are afraid to lose it, you should not bet it.” Bankroll management is one of the most important parts of sports betting for anyone, newbie or pro alike.
Another savvy tip for betting on the NFL is to shop the odds. With the number of safe sportsbooks available, players should check as many sites as they can to ensure that the bet the plan on making gives them the best odds. This trick also works for betting on College Football.
Finally, for 18 years old starting their NFL betting experience, finding a niche can be key. Some players may do their best on spreads while others play prop bets exclusively for the joy of it. It’s all personal preference, which can equate to more wins with the right amount of research and experimentation.
Types of bets common in NFL wagering
- Point spread– The margin of victory that the favored team must win by in order for the bet to win. (ex. Houston 3.5; Houston must win by 4 or more points.)
- Money line– A bet placed on the winner of the game regardless of any spreads. To determine favorites and underdogs, odds are given on each team’s likelihood of winning. (ex. Baltimore -250, Miami +150; Baltimore is favored to beat Miami.)
- Total– Also known as the over/under, totals are bets made on the number of points scored by one or both teams. (ex. O/U 56.5 points; the teams must score 57 or more for the over to win.)
- Prop bet– These are bets that do not directly affect the outcome of the game, such as who wins and loses. (ex. The total number of times Mahomes is sacked.)
- Parlay– This is the process of betting on multiple lines in order to secure a greater payout. All bets must-win for the entire parlay to hit.
- Future– Betting on futures involves making longer-term predictions, such as placing a wager on next year’s Super Bowl odds.
NFL Playoff Betting
The action really heats up at 18+ betting sites once the NFL postseason arrives each January. This year, there’s an extra two teams that have been added to the playoff mix to increase the excitement. Fourteen teams will compete for a chance to head to Super Bowl 55 and win an NFL championship. All of the betting types featured above are also available during the NFL Playoffs. As more teams are eliminated, there are fewer games to be played, meaning the last chance for a parlay wager would be during the divisional round.
What is NFL live betting?
Another style of NFL betting is known as live betting. With the introduction of so many trusted online sportsbooks, live betting has become even more accessible. But what is it exactly?
Live betting, also called in-play betting, involves placing a wager on a game that has already begun. As the game plays on, the odds can change to reflect each team’s performance. Most live betting options still offer the traditional-type of bets, such as money lines, spreads, props, and totals.
Bonuses and promotions at NFL betting site for players 18+
Another huge benefit of online sportsbooks is their bonuses and promotions. Depending on which sportsbook is chosen, welcome bonuses can be anything from a 50% deposit match, to free betting vouchers, or added mobile betting benefits. Below is a selection of the most popular sportsbook and some of their promotions:
- MyBookie- 100% match on initial deposit, up to $1,000
- BetOnline- 50% welcome bonus, 25% lifetime bonus guarantee.
- Bovada– 50% match on initial deposit, up to $250.
Mobile NFL betting for 18+
Almost everyone carries some form of tablet or smartphone around with them at all times. That’s why it’s so important that the sportsbooks we recommend allow for 18+ mobile betting on the go that works well with all current iPhones, iPads, and Android devices. Just by clicking on the link to one of the betting sites we recommend in this guide using a current mobile device will unlock all of the features of the regular site in the palm of your hand.
Place a bet on your favorite NFL team or simulated sports from almost anywhere in the United States with a strong internet connection with the mobile betting provided by our top sportsbooks.
Betting Site Banking Options
Most of the online sportsbooks that we recommend prefer Cryptocurrency, specifically Bitcoin (BTC). To encourage the use of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, betting sites offer increased levels of promotional bonuses when it is used as a method of deposit, and it is the only type of withdrawal that can be completed within 24 hours of it being requested. Other banking options for wagering on the NFL include:
Deposit | Withdrawal |
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*The only method that pays out in the same day that it was requested |
Are 18 and over online sportsbooks safe to use?
As long as the chosen online sportsbook is licensed and regulated, they are safe in regards to legalities and security. Some of the best online books are listed in the next section, all of which hold operation licenses.
Security and privacy are held in the highest standard for these regulated sites. Each one featured below uses customer support staff, data encryption, and cryptocurrency depositing methods to keep users safe when gambling online through their books.
NFL resources
To better understand the NFL, get information on stats, or just follow teams, a couple of resources are below. These links are key when doing research for betting as scores and statistics can make or break a wager.
Statistical database: Pro Football Reference
Scoring histories and updates: ESPN’s NFL index
The US sports betting market is still in its early days but has already played host to some spectacular deals since 2018.
- Penn National’s acquisition of Barstool has received praise for the way it transformed the company.
- Flutter has seen the value of FanDuel increase 20-fold since its initial investment (although that first valuation is being disputed in court.)
- DraftKings’ acquisition of SBTech paved the way for aspectacular stock market run.
The deal-making in the sports betting industry shows no sign of slowing down.
“Everyone is talking to everyone” said Simon French, the co-founder of advisory firm BixtethPartners. “There’s a lot of motivation to do deals, from valuation arbitrage to technology plays. There are still a lot of big guns yet to fire bullets.”
So what sort of transactions could we see in 2021?
SPAC attack in US sports betting
For starters, more companies are likely to going public. Jefferies analyst David Katz said demand for sports betting opportunities among institutional investors was “unbelievable.”
“The volume of calls we get, the readership of notes, it’s been amazing,” Katz said. “There is certainly a gold rush feeling here.”
At present that demand is seemingly funneled into two high-profile sports betting stocks: Penn and DraftKings. But the markets have a way of leveling themselves, and more supply is on the way via SPACs.
More opportunities coming?
It helps that SPACs involving DraftKings, Golden Nugget,Rush Street andGenius Sports have all been well received. And there are several more funded SPACs looking for targets within gaming.
Like any gold rush, there’s plenty of money available for those providing the picks and shovels. As one Wall Street source put it:
“If you provide anything to this industry and you’re not trying to take advantage of the multiples available in public markets, you’re not doing your job. If people are willing to hand out money at astronomical valuations, why wouldn’t you take advantage of it?”
SPACs are a simple solution to speed up that passage to the public markets, so expect more of the same in 2021. The impact of that glut of supply on valuations? Well, that is its own question.
Another deal for DraftKings?
Aside from the external interest in the sector, there’s plenty of appetite for deal-making within it. DraftKings is an obvious candidate to be at the heart of any wheeling and dealing. At its recentQ3 results, DK had $1.3 billion on the balance sheet, which CEO Jason Robins said could be earmarked for M&A.
The company has been linked in the past with media outlets likeBleacher Report, but could feasibly have a bigger target in mind.
“DraftKings acquiring a European operator in stock would make sense in theory,” said WillHershey, CEO of RoundHill Investments. “That would be immediately accretive to earnings.”
Such a deal would make the most of DKNG’s lofty valuation, especially if a similar multiple were applied to any European revenues it acquired.
Bolt-on M&A options
Content is also still highly sought after, according to the banker. To that end, operators are looking at names like The Athletic, Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated and Action Network.
Companies are also looking at daily fantasy sports. We saw two sportsbook investments in fantasy companies in one day this week, and expect more of the same.
Fantasy operators can build customer databases in not-yet legal betting states like California, and take sign-ups three years earlier than sportsbooks with a legal age of 18 years old. (Of course, DraftKings and FanDuel are already doing this as well.)
Why DFS makes sense
For a sportsbook, having a fantasy option in-house helps capture a higher share of a player’s wallet. At present, a William Hill customer (for example) needs to go to FanDuel/DraftKings to play fantasy, from where they might never return.
Or how about a deal focused on in-play betting? In-play is one of the fastest-growing areas of US sports betting, but the product is certainly not perfect yet. In fact, some argue it is “broken” thanks to delays, heavy vig and not enough uptime.
It’s the type of niche technology problem that could be solved by a startup rather than a legacy operator. A company like SimpleBet has made some progress on this front with a free-to-play micro-prediction game gaining tractionover at FanDuel.
Sports Betting Online
Best opportunities outside US sports betting?
In fact, B2B technology as a whole is a hot sector given the success of DraftKings/SBTech and more recentlyBally’s and Bet.Works.
“We’ve been surprised by the number of US betting operators wanting their own tech stack,” French said.
That could make privately-owned software names like FSB and Amelco attractive for US casino chains.
iGaming as well
10 Top Sports Betting Sites
It’s a similar story in online casino; a relatively unloved market at present, but one with more value still to be unlocked.
French noted Playtech as an option for US operators looking to own their casino technology. Indeed, earlier this year Playtech shareholder Jason Ader argued the company would be an ideal target for DraftKings.
On that note, Ader told LSR he expected to see more US land-based giants acquiring European online operators like the Caesars/William Hill deal.
“If they don’t, they risk going out of business,” Ader said. “If you’re a retailer that didn’t move online, you don’t exist anymore. Who’s thriving against Amazon? Wal-Mart. They built an amazing online business to complement their stores. MGM, Caesars, Wynn. They have a choice to be like Wal-Mart or disappear.”
In short, there’s a palpable sense of an ongoing gold rush for US betting sites, and 2021 looks set be a year of blockbusters.